Effect of a 1-month methotrexate delay on pneumococcal vaccine immunogenicity and disease control in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (VACIMRA): an open-label randomised trial.

Background: Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Because immunosuppressant therapies for rheumatoid arthritis hinder vaccine efficacy, vaccination should be administered before initiating immunosuppressive drugs. We aimed to compare humoral responses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13) before methotrexate initiation or simultaneously.

Effects of face-to-face and remote Tai Chi in stable axial spondyloarthritis: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

To investigate the effects of a Tai Chi (TC) programme (hospital-based or remote) on total physical activity (PA) time in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA ). Between January 2019 and July 2021, patients with stable AS (BASDAI ≤ 40/100 or symptoms at an acceptable level, within the last six months) were enrolled in a four-month parallel, two-arm pilot study. Participants were randomised to either the immediate Tai Chi group (ITG), starting face-to-face TC immediately after enrolment for a duration of 4 months, or to the waiting list control group (WLCG), which started a 2 month face-to-face TC programme 2 months after enrolment.

Efficacy and safety of capsaicin 8% patches: The experience of a rheumatology department.

Background: Capsaicin 8% patches are recommended for the treatment of localized neuropathic pain, which is a frequent reason for rheumatology consultations.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of capsaicin 8% used in our Rheumatology Department.

Design: Single-center retrospective study.

Grip Strength Impairment and Neuropathic-Like Pain as Predictors of Functional Decline in Hand Osteoarthritis.

Objective: (1) To define the factors associated with pain, functional limitation, grip strength (GS), sarcopenia and quality of life (QoL) in hand osteoarthritis (HOA) patients and (2) to compare the characteristics of HOA patients with or without neuropathic-like pain.

Methods: The clinical parameters (numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain, Functional Index for HOA (FIHOA), GS, QoL, and sarcopenia) were completed by hand radiographs and biological analysis. A neuropathic-like pain was retained if the DN4 score was ≥4/10.

Risk of cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis under tocilizumab: Data from the French national registry REGATE.

Objective: Our study aimed to estimate the incidence and risk factors of cancer among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with tocilizumab (TCZ) and followed for five years in the French registry (REGATE).

Method: The REGATE registry is a French prospective cohort study investigating the safety of TCZ in RA (registration n: 910346). Data were collected using an e-CRF between 2011 and 2016 and with a questionnaire specifically distributed to participating centers that reported malignancies in REGATE.

Disease activity during pregnancy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis: results from the multicentre prospective GR2 study.

Background: Pregnancy may have a beneficial effect on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but the evidence is more conflicting in spondyloarthritis (SpA). The aim of this study was to analyse disease activity and relapse during pregnancy in women with RA and SpA.

Methods: Consecutive pregnant women with RA or SpA were enrolled in this French multicentre observational cohort from 2014 to 2022.

CADOR (Capsaicin in neuropathic-like pain in digital osteoarthritis) study protocol: a multicentre randomised parallel-group trial.

Introduction: It is common for finger pain in hand osteoarthritis (HOA) to display a neuropathic component. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and conventional analgesics are not very effective in relieving this neuropathic-like pain. Capsaicin, a compound extracted from chilli peppers, is approved for the management of localised neuropathic pain.

Comparison of two strategies of glucocorticoid withdrawal in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in low disease activity (STAR): a randomised, placebo- controlled, double-blind trial.

Objectives: To compare two strategies-a hydrocortisone replacement strategy and a prednisone tapering strategy-for their success in glucocorticoid discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with low disease activity (LDA).

Methods: The Strategies for glucocorticoid TApering in Rheumatoid arthritis (STAR) study was a double- blind, double-placebo randomised controlled trial including patients with RA receiving a stable dose of glucocorticoid 5 mg/day for ≥3 months and were in LDA for ≥3 months. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either replace prednisone with 20 mg/day of hydrocortisone for 3 months, then reduce to 10 mg/day for 3 months before discontinuation or to taper prednisone by 1 mg/day every month until complete discontinuation, contingent on maintaining LDA.

Prevalence of comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factor management in hand osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of comorbidities and management of cardiovascular risk factors according to established guidelines for patients with hand osteoarthritis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted that included 110 hand osteoarthritis patients. The clinical parameters (pain, function, grip strength, quality of life, sarcopenia, and comorbidities) were assessed along with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (blood pressure, body mass index, and dyslipidaemia).

Do SMS/e-mail reminders increase influenza vaccination of rheumatoid arthritis patients under anti-TNF: a nested randomized controlled trial in the ART e-cohort.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of short message service (SMS) and/or email reminders in improving influenza vaccination coverage rates among RA patients treated with anti-TNF therapies, and to identify factors associated with vaccination.

Methods: This study was a nested randomized controlled trial in the ART e-cohort, an ongoing French nationwide multicentre prospective cohort of RA patients treated with anti-TNF therapy. Patients were 1:1 randomized, with stratification on age.

Comparison of group versus individual patient education for promoting safety skills of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases treated with biologics: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led intervention combining face-to-face and group education sessions for the acquisition of safety skills by patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases treated with biologics.

Methods: This multicentre randomised controlled trial compared two individual patient education sessions against a combination of an individual session at baseline and a group session 3 months later. The primary outcome was a validated questionnaire (BioSecure) scored at 6 and 12 months that assessed competencies and problem-solving abilities to deal with fever, infection, vaccination, and daily situations.

Effect of Argentine tango sessions on total physical activity time in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatism: randomized, controlled, pilot study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an Argentine Tango (AT) program on total physical activity (PA) time in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods: Prospective randomized controlled pilot study with two parallel groups. Participants were randomized 1:1 to attend a 24-week AT program from baseline to month 6 for the immediate tango group (ITG) and a 12-week AT program from month 3 to month 6 for the wait-list control group (WLCG).

How do patient-reported outcome measures affect treatment intensification and patient satisfaction in the management of psoriatic arthritis? A cross sectional study of 503 patients.

Objectives: The AsseSSing Impact in pSoriatic Treatment (ASSIST) study investigated prescribing in routine PsA care and whether the patient-reported outcome-PsA Impact of Disease questionnaire (PsAID-12)-impacted treatment. This study also assessed a range of patient and clinician factors and their relationship to PsAID-12 scoring and treatment modification.

Methods: Patients with PsA were selected across the UK and Europe between July 2021 and March 2022.

Diagnosis and treatment of Tropheryma whipplei infection in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease: Data from the French Tw-IRD registry.

Objectives: Tropheryma whipplei infection can manifest as inflammatory joint symptoms, which can lead to misdiagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic disease and the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. We investigated the impact of diagnosis and treatment of Tropheryma whipplei infection in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease.

Methods: We initiated a registry including patients with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs-treated inflammatory rheumatic disease who were subsequently diagnosed with Tropheryma whipplei infection.

An international multicentre analysis of current prescribing practices and shared decision-making in psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: Shared decision-making (SDM) is advocated to improve patient outcomes in PsA. We analysed current prescribing practices and the extent of SDM in PsA across Europe.

Methods: The ASSIST study was a cross-sectional observational study of PsA patients ≥18 years of age attending face-to-face appointments between July 2021 and March 2022.

Towards the Lowest Efficacious Dose: Results From a Multicenter Noninferiority Randomized Open-Label Controlled Trial Assessing Tocilizumab or Abatacept Injection Spacing in Rheumatoid Arthritis in Remission.

Objective: We assess the clinical and structural impact at two years of progressively spacing tocilizumab (TCZ) or abatacept (ABA) injections versus maintenance at full dose in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in sustained remission.

Methods: This multicenter open-label noninferiority (NI) randomized clinical trial included patients with established rheumatoid arthritis in sustained remission receiving ABA or TCZ at a stable dose. Patients were randomized to treatment maintenance (M) at full dose (M-arm) or progressive injection spacing (S) driven by the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints every 3 months up to biologics discontinuation (S-arm).

Glucocorticoid trajectories over 2 years in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a real-life setting.

Objectives: To analyse glucocorticoid (GC) use and trajectories in a real-life cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with RA included in the longitudinal RCVRIC cohort for initiating or changing biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, were compared for the use of GCs at baseline. Among the GC users, the GC dose was analysed over 2 years of follow-up by group-based trajectory models.

Association between obesity and likelihood of remission or low disease activity status in psoriatic arthritis applying index-based and patient-based definitions of remission: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether obese patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) were less likely to be in remission/low disease activity (LDA).

Methods: We used data from the ReFlaP, an international multi-centre cohort study (NCT03119805), which recruited consecutive adults with definite PsA (disease duration ≥ 2 years) from 14 countries. Demographics, clinical data, comorbidities, and patient-reported outcomes were collected.